Hello everyone, how are you all doing?
We are continuing to have days with a scorching, relentless sun.
Please be sure to take care to stay hydrated.
Now, although this is a work that was recently purchased by a customer,
I would like to introduce a very unique "Masu-Nezumi" (Measuring Box and Rats) craftwork by Hikaru Shimamura.
The Masu-Nezumi is one of the classic motifs of Bizen ware, which was also worked on by famous master craftsmen of the Showa era.
The basic composition features a few rats inside a large "issho-masu" (a one-sho measuring box),
and their somewhat dazed expressions as they search for food are truly adorable.
This Masu-Nezumi by Mr. Shimamura is a work overflowing with originality that truly embodies the concept of "learning from the past to create the new."
While showing heartfelt respect for the craftsmen of the past, Mr. Shimamura does not merely imitate the masters,
but instead breaks new ground, representing the very forefront of Bizen craftwork.
In this piece, he has taken the concept of the measuring box and reinterpreted it into a frame-like shape,
applying skillful, freehand geometric patterns to it.
The adorable rats are sculpted with consideration for the range of motion of their skeletons and the way their fur stretches,
showing a remarkably superb rendering of form that appears simple at first glance.
He has reconstructed the traditional Masu-Nezumi form—previously explored by masters like Toku Konishi and Toyo Kaneshige—with outstanding sensibility to fit modern living spaces.
With the intention that the craftwork should be actively utilized—that is to say, appreciated—it is designed to blend into modern life, showcasing magnificent workmanship.
Along with his exquisite spatula work, one can see Mr. Shimamura’s pride as a Bizen craftsman.
Their very adorable expressions are soothing just to look at.
Even the fine individual differences, such as the tilt of their ears and their expressions, are well-expressed.
What surprised me most was the way their hips are rendered.
The plump, rounded hips of the rats have been masterfully captured in clay.
One is struck by the witty spirit of the potters of old who depicted rats—normally considered pests—in such a charming way,
but I also take my hat off to Mr. Shimamura’s skill in further evolving it into something like a photo frame.